The Strange Case Of Ananias and Sapphire.

The fledgling Nazarene community, hearing the news of the murders, fell to trembling, and a “great fear seized the whole community.” What actually happened to this Jesus-loving devout couple continues to incite reaction and debate in present time.

To read that our “reluctant apostle”, known by several names, is the lead character in this tragic scandal seemed logically natural. Once again, Peter/Satan is casting dispersions, instilling doubt under the guise of human form. In this passage, the Angel drops the bumbling, unpredictable  apostle persona, and acts with razor intent, committing a capital crime without hesitation, ensuring that fear touches all who will listen, and walks away without so much as a warning. Satan slides right back into character and despite the possible consequences that could strike him and the Nazarenes hard, the fallen one resumes his human identity as the reactive and indecisive apostle – and no-one is the wiser.   

We are informed from Acts chapter (4:32) that the initial followers of Jesus should sell their material possessions and give all the proceeds to the followers of the Son of Man. It was stated, all monies would be donated to the hungry and poor. Our Lord told us in the Gospels to give graciously to the poor, following His example, to love our neighbour and love God. One of the leaders of the Nazarenes, Barnabas, a devout soul, sold all his earthly wares to imitate the Lord. From Acts, we know he travelled with Paul, disseminating ‘The Way”. Ananias and Sapphire, a married couple, giving the impression they are new converts to the Nazarenes, decided to also sell their possessions, imitating Barnabas’ example. For reasons not revealed, they held back a portion of their profits.

Simon Peter confronted Ananias, and said, “Why it is that Satan has filled your heart that you lied to the Holy Spirit?” Evidently, the “lead apostle”, pointed out to Ananias, that he controlled his money and can use it as he saw fit.

“You lied not to men, but to God!” announced the apostle.

Ananias fell to the ground, sprawled dead across Peters feet. Those that heard about Ananias, fell into a panic, and suddenly “feared the Lord.”

About three hours later, Sapphire entered, unaware of her husband’s death. Peter asked the amount of money they made from the sale of their land, and she lied, giving Peter an untruthful amount.

Peter said:

 “How can you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the “young men” who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

Sapphire, upon hearing these words of threats and condemnation, fell heavily to the ground at Simon Peer’s feet and died.

As the apostle stated, the “young men” came in and carried Sapphire out and buried her next to her husband.

Again, the Nazarene community, hearing about the second death, were seized in great fear.

Comment:

Although this chapter in the Acts is edited for undisclosed reasons, our chilling reaction is close as possible to the Nazarene’s, so long ago – “seized in great fear”. One wonders why the scribe of Acts, left the report about the incident without a definitive statement, leaving it open for interpretation.

Peter is painted as an arbiter of divine justice, recognising sin, making his judgement, and delivering punishment on the spot. Reading this strange incident, one cannot help but recall the harsh and strict control of the Old Testament God in the Five Books of Moses. Once out of Egypt, Moses receives the Ten Commandments from God, the instant result is disobedience: God smiting his “chosen people” by the hundreds, and later, thousands at a time. The God of the Old Testament rarely, if at all, shows mercy for “His Chosen people”. Understandably however, as soon as God turns his back, in spite of what their given and knowing what they’ll get once disobeying, they return to the old ways time and again. Is Peter/Satan experiencing a sentimental moment about the Glory days, when the Angel had the ear of God? (See Job) At first glance, this definitely is a possibility.

One reads the New Testament, and see’s the same bumbling, reactionary and indecisive apostle: opening his big mouth when he should be silent, being a coward when he should be strong, and his unrelenting doubts about the Lord.  In Acts, chapter 12, Peter has finally chosen to be decisive and strong, handing down a severe punishment for a minor transgression. In comparison, Simon Peter’s transgressions throughout the four gospels, deserves utter banishment, though murders two relatively good souls for a single act of dishonesty. The hypocrisy of this being moves beyond human understanding.

There is no background information to aid the reader to put this psychotic behaviour into context. Peter’s actions resemble an individual with an extreme Bi-Polar condition. In the four gospels, his behaviour is consistent – never in the “moment”, reacting to external stimuli believing the world revolves around him, (narcissistic) a blustering fool one instant to a silent weakling the next. The apostle hesitates, (dragging his heels) when immediate action is required. Simon Peter has a string of unrelated personality traits, but the “simpleton” trait stands out more so than others. Rather than showing integrity or a semblance of a fully formed character, his personality resembles broken glass, fragmented shards, pieces, rising to the surface at inopportune times. 

In his natural state as a celestial, his behaviour is certainly not fragmented following Simon Peters’ modes operandi as an indecisive “reluctant apostle”, in this case, the fallen One is shocking in his decisiveness, moving into action with coldblooded precision: leaving all who hear of this behaviour in cowering fear.

Simon Peter’s presence in Acts wanes considerably after chapter 12. The position of lead apostle is apparently passed to James the Just in a later chapter. Whether this incident prompted his demotion is speculative, however the timing seems to fit. Later in Acts, he is “sitting on the fence”, indecisive once again, changing sides - his hypocrisy wide open for all to see. 

The reason the incident is left open for interpretation, is the writer was not permitted to tell the story as it really happened. It seems by only telling a portion of the incident, leaving no definitive statement, actually reveals more to the reader. Why would he commit this senseless murder on a couple who simply had a shadow of doubt?  By doing so, Satan risked the reputation of his persona as apostle, and the reputation of the group.

 These were exceedingly troubled times. This newly formed tiny group of Christs’ followers, could have easily been dissolved, and erased from history. For their opposition came from all sides – Jewish elders, radicals, Roman persecution, ending in the successful rantings of a heretic. Satan knew exactly what he was doing with this couple. It can be understood why the couple hedged their bets, as new comers to this small cult. For them to leave their life of security, to literally sell the farm, heading into an uncertain future, holding back a little of their earnings would be almost expected. However they engaged in deceit, withholding their action, lying about it, and to someone also withholding a secret, a being of grand deception and evil – unfortunately, Ananias and Sapphire happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time - and they never saw it coming.

 The Angel’s insipid performance resembles God of the Old Testament, smiting the couple down for a single misdemeanour.

Interestingly, Satan has often been called “the Accuser”, a name that reflects the Angel’s action in this incident very well. 

What makes this incident even more bizarre is the “young men” walking in to carry out the couple’s dead bodies. As the fallen angel eerily declares, “The feet of the “young men” who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” Who are these “young men?” It smells of vileness, an act of diabolical intent. The first Pope of the future Church commits premeditated homicide on a relatively innocent Jewish couple, who believed in the teachings of Jesus Christ. The purpose: to evoke fear and confusion in the small Nazarene community. Perhaps bury the new movement entirely. 

The evil actually rises from the page as you read it.

 Peter’s actions in no way reflect the teachings of Jesus – that is, love and forgiveness. Ananias and Sapphire were not even given the opportunity to repent, but are murdered like the ‘chosen” of the Old Testament, by a jealous and vengeful God. It is evident that Peter/Satan has his own agenda. And it is certainly not passing on the humble and forgiving teachings of Jesus Christ.

Satan failed in this case, however his plan to influence Christs’ intentions, came in the form of a fanatical convert, a heretic, whose inverted teachings changed the course of Christianity.

First draft: He that Deceiveth the Whole World.